OWC has unveiled the Viper Pro, an external drive with Thunderbolt 2 support.

The Viper Pro is an external solid state drive (SSD) featuring two Thunderbolt 2 ports. The drive supports sustained data transfer speeds of up to 1350MB/s, and because it’s a Thunderbolt drive, it of course supports daisy chaining multiple Thunderbolt devices together. It also features variable fan speed for quiet cooling.

The aluminum enclosure comes in two storage capacity. For $2,999 you’ll get a 4TB SSD, while $4,799 will net you 8TB of storage. Both versions will be available for order at some point this summer.

If you’re in the market for some extra storage, you might want to check out Amazon’s current deal of the day, which brings some significant discounts to Lexar microSD cards and USB drives.

With Amazon’s deal, you can save up to 58 percent on select Lexar microSD cards, along with up to 74 percent on Lexar USB drives.

IBM has announced today that it has once again partnered with Apple for the launch of its Watson Health Cloud to give researchers access to anonymized health data.

Through its partnership with Apple, IBM‘s Watson Health Cloud will gather and anonymize information from HealthKit and ResearchKit, along with other providers such as Johnson & Johnson, to create an open cloud platform that will allow researchers and health-focused app developers to draw on vast amounts of health data from a centralized, HIPAA-compliant resource.

From IBM:

IBM will de-identify and store health data in a secure, scalable cloud system that enables researchers to access and share data in an open ecosystem environment, as well as have access to IBM’s data-mining and predictive analytics capabilities. Health and fitness app developers and medical researchers will be able to draw on data at a scale that until now has never been available. For apps using HealthKit and ResearchKit, IBM will provide a delivery platform through Health Cloud to easily store, aggregate and model data, combining it with other data sources and types to enrich research findings and identify the next frontiers of medical discovery.

This is just the latest in a close relationship between Apple and IBM. Apple and IBM launched their first round of MobileFirst apps for enterprise users in December 2014, and another batch of apps from earlier this month saw the two companies release the first set of apps for the healthcare industry. As part of today’s announcement, IBM says that it intends to continue this focus with an upcoming suite of HealthKit-enabled wellness apps that will help companies work with their employees to manage their health needs.

Source: IBM (PRNewswire)

The iOS 8.4 beta is out now and available for download via Apple’s developer portal.

The biggest new feature appears to be a revamped Music app that includes a streamlined version of iTunes Radio. It comes amid rumors that Apple is set to debut a new music streaming service sometime around WWDC 2015 this June.

The developer release of the iOS 8.4 beta comes just under a week after Apple released iOS 8.3 to the public, so the company appears to be intent on keeping up momentum through the spring.

While today’s beta release is developer-only, iOS 8.3 went through a period of invite-only public beta testing, so it’s possible that iOS 8.4 may do the same.

OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 was released last week. Should you install it?

That’s the question posed to me in this week’s Mac Help. It seems my previous warnings about not rushing into major operating system updates have created anxiety about any operating system update, even the relatively minor ones, for some long-time iMore readers. That includes last week’s OS X Yosemite point release of 10.10.3.

V. B. writes

“I read your warning about installing Yosemite and now I’m worried I did something wrong. I put on 10.10.3 as soon as I saw it on iMore. Did I screw up my Mac?”

Sorry about that, V.B. I think when the big updates come out like Yosemite and Mavericks before it, it’s worth being circumspect and letting other folks pay the penalties that sometime come with early adoption: System instability, broken or not-quite-working features and potential compatibility pitfalls with apps you depend on.

The incremental updates like 10.10.3 are much less cause for concern, because they’re shoring up issues and tightening the bolts.

If you haven’t yet migrated to Yosemite and you’ve been thinking about it, now’s a good time to get on that. Set aside a few hours. Check out my How to get your Mac ready for Yosemite guide.

10.10.3’s biggest obvious change was the inclusion of Photos, Apple’s replacement for iPhoto. We’ve got all the details about Photos for OS X here:

• Photos for OS X: The ultimate guide

Most people aren’t having any trouble with the iPhoto to Photos transition, but those that are can usually backpedal a step if they’re using Time Machine or another backup method, which I strongly advocate before making any change to your Mac.

Other important changes to 10.10.3 include support for Google two-factor authentication, new emoji, and more.

So yeah, it’s safe to go ahead and make the change, as long as you are comfortable with your backup strategy.

An iPad mini paired with a great keyboard case can make a great ultra portable productivity tool.

Whether you want to get some serious work done on a long flight or just don’t want to haul an entire laptop bag to the coffee shop, keyboard cases are turning iPads everywhere into workhorses, and the iPad mini is no exception. Keyboard cases aren’t cheap, however, and like most accessories, they definitely aren’t one size fits all. Some people may prefer a folio to add a little protection while others may prefer the cover to keep things light and thin. No matter what your style is, these are our absolute favorite keyboard cases for the iPad mini!

Editor’s note: All current versions of the iPad mini are almost identical in size. That means any of the cases listed below with work with all generations of the iPad mini, unless otherwise specified.

Logitech Keys-To-Go

The iPad mini is small. And that restricts how big an attached keyboard can be. If you prefer a full sized typing experience, Logitech’s Keys-To-Go keyboard fits any sized iPad. It also allows you to use any stand, case, or other accessories you’d like. Pull it out when you need it, pack it away when you don’t. Keys-To-Go comes in black, teal, and red color options.

• Around $60 – Buy now

ClamCase Pro

The thing I love about Clamecase products is the high quality feel and look. They also transform your iPad mini into a mini laptop of sorts. On one charge you’ll get up to 6 months or 100 hours of typing time. You also get a dedicated row of keys specialized for iPad. Removing your iPad mini is also super simple, which makes the ClamCase Pro a great on the fly option.

• $129 – Buy now

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover

If you prefer to keep your iPad mini light and thin, Logitech’s Ultrathin keyboard cover lets you quickly and easily remove it and replace it. If you’ve ever used an Apple Smart cover and prefer that style of protection, the Ultrathin is for you. You can get up to 6 months battery life on one charge and can choose from white and black.

• $69 – Buy now

ZAGG Cover

ZAGG’s keyboard cover for iPad mini features illuminated backlit keys, 3 months of battery life, a dedicated function row of keys, and is about 15% thinner than many competing keyboards. The hinge is also fully reversible so you can fold over the keyboard without having to remove it in order to use your iPad mini in tablet mode.

• iPad mini 1st gen – $30 – $35 – Buy now
• Ipad mini 2nd and 3rd gen – $99 – Buy now

Logitech Ultrathin Textured Folio

Logitech’s Ultrathin Folio line combines the great keyboard layout found in the Ultrathin cover but adds a folio for even more protection. While Logitech offers this case in two separate finishes, I much prefer the textured version due to the extra grip it provides. It also ensures that your iPad mini stays put on whatever surface you leave it on.

• Around $80 – Buy now

Your picks?

If you use the iPad mini as a productivity tool, what keyboard case is currently your favorite? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

Toca Kitchen 2 is the sequel to the original Windows Phone game for children that puts your child in the kitchen with a wide range of ingredients to prepare some rather unique meals.

Toca Kitchen is a part of a series of games that are designed to challenge your child’s creativity. The cooking game will let your child experiment with different proteins, fruits, vegetable and other food ingredients and let them get messy without creating a mess. You also have three dining patrons to serve as taste testers.

Available for low-memory Windows Phones and Windows 8 devices, Toca Kitchen 2 comes across as a fun, time-consuming game for our younger readers.

You may not be able to buy the Sport paired with a non-Sport band, but it still looks great as an accessory.

After a weekend of travel, I finally got a chance to visit the Apple Store to “officially” try on the Apple Watch. Despite having already placed my preorder — a 38mm Sport with White Sport Band, along with a separate Milanese Loop — I came prepared with a list of watches I wanted to try, just to try them.

In addition to trying on a variety of preset Watch/band combos, the in-store specialists let me actually swap out a few 38mm Watch bands on the 38mm Sport body. Here’s how the Milanese looks on the Sport, along with a few other in-store comparisons (and a quick Siri test).

• The Apple Watch Retail Experience

Even though I’ve gotten to play with the Watch twice before now — during the September and March events — the in-store try-on experience is a very different beast. Much less rushed, more time to experiment with different styles, and room for exploration.

Before we got to the actual try-on, my Apple Watch guide chatted a bit with me up-front about the Watch styles I was interested in. (Turns out, when you favorite Watches on the website, they also populate during a try-on appointment. This way, the specialists can know what models you’ve been considering.)

I mentioned I’d pre-ordered, but I wanted to see other bands and combos as well, and she was absolutely accommodating. It probably helped that I visited a smaller store in the Boston metro area — when I booked my appointment, there were plenty of other Watch try-on slots on either end of my time, so there was no urgent rush to get me in, out, and on my way.

Sport vs Watch

First thing I really wanted to do was compare the casings of the 38mm Watch vs the 38mm Sport. I picked up the Sport on pre-order for a number of reasons, but it’s hard not to love the Watch’s steel casing — it’s beautiful from behind glass, but looks even better in person, especially when compared to the Sport.

Which isn’t to say that the Sport doesn’t have its own perks. Far from it. It’s much lighter both in the hand and on the wrist than the Watch, and the price tag makes the cost of Apple’s newest accessory a little easier to swallow. Plus, it looks pretty great with most of the Watch’s bands.

The Sport and other bands

Though I got to try on several Watch band combos throughout the appointment — including the 42mm with the leather loop, both of which I was pleasantly surprised by — I mentioned my real interest being in checking out how the Milanese looked on the Sport. My Watch guide had no problem doing this, and quickly went to work, letting me play with the bandless Steel body in the meantime.

It really is a gorgeous piece of tech.

After a a few seconds, my Watch guide had everything set and ready to put on.

The Milanese remains deftly elegant when paired with the Sport, even with the slight color clash between aluminum and steel on the pins. Those scientists in the audience shouldn’t worry too much about galvanic corrosion: When we’ve asked in the past, Apple told iMore that both Watch and band pins are coated to prevent such a thing.

Though I’ve also tried the Modern Buckle with the aluminum casing, I think the Milanese has a classier look as an accessory band than its leather sibling — it blends more seamlessly with the casing, and you can’t beat its $149 vs $249 for leather price tag.

Though I didn’t try this combination in the store, you can mix the Milanese with the Space Grey Sport and get similarly delightful results. From Franz Bruckhoff on Twitter:

Yes, you can combine Space Black with the silver Milanese Loop and it looks pretty great. #AppleWatch pic.twitter.com/f8efvN9BuX

— Franz Bruckhoff (@taptanium) April 10, 2015

Hey, Siri (and other tests)

While in the store, I also spent some time playing around with live Watch features on the demo tables. My biggest curiosity was Siri’s effectiveness — it’s sometimes touch-and-go on my phone, but much more crucial on the Watch for daily tasks.

Surprisingly, even in a noisy store standing several feet from the display table, Siri performed effortlessly. I asked the Watch for a few sets of directions (though it wouldn’t actually let me connect to navigation, being a demo unit), dictated a few quick text messages, and even went on a long, rambling dictation to see just how well Siri picked up on very quick speech.

Answer: remarkably well. (The only mixup was “and I” in place of “where I”.)

Overall, my appointment left me more excited to actually start using the Watch when it (hopefully) arrives on my doorstep next Friday. Watch try-ons are a great way to feel out how the device will actually feel and look on your wrist, and they also give you time to explore parts of the OS and system apps you may not quite yet understand. If you’re considering or pre-ordered an Apple Watch, I highly recommend it.

On the sidelines of the India launch of HTC One M9+, the company’s new flagship Android smartphone, in New Delhi earlier today, HTC shared that the company is closely working with Microsoft as Windows 10 shapes up to bring a new device to market.

A couple of big name game titles are now available across Xbox One and PC, with Mortal Kombat X and the long awaited arrival of GTA V on the PC. Lots of unnecessary violence, for sure.

Mortal Kombat X sees its global launch across PC, Xbox One and PS4, while for Rockstar’s epic this is now the third time on a third platform the title has launched.